Keely Cat-Wells is an entrepreneur and disability rights advocate who, at the age of 17, faced a major health challenge that resulted in her acquiring a disability. She later faced disability discrimination in the creative industries, which cost her a job. Recognizing that her struggles were not unique, she founded C Talent, a talent agency representing Disabled artists, which increased disability representation in media, achieved a roster reach of over 50 million, and represented Academy Award and Emmy-nominated Disabled talent, placing them in some of the world’s most prominent media projects. Acquired in 2022, C Talent marked the largest acquisition of a Disabled-led company in the U.S. specializing in Disabled talent.

Following the acquisition, Keely established Making Space, a talent acquisition and learning platform for companies to hire, support, and retain Disabled professionals. It connects employers with a highly qualified, innovative, and often overlooked workforce while providing essential education to confidently support current and future Disabled employees. Making Space is trusted by employers such as Netflix, NBC, Indeed, Microsoft, Visa, Salesforce and more. Its goal is to provide the necessary resources and opportunities for Disabled professionals to build meaningful careers and become influential leaders. Making Space is a Webby-nominated, Techstars Economic Mobility company, winner of SXSW EDU's pitch competition, Pepperdine’s ‘Most Fundable Companies’ and the winner of the WGU Labs Inaugural EdTech Pitch Competition. They raised an oversubscribed $2M pre-seed in 2024.

In collaboration with award-winning TV Host and disability rights advocate Sophie Morgan, Keely co-founded Making Space Media to center Disabled voices in film, and TV. Making Space Media is in a first-look deal with Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine. Their recent documentary “Fight To Fly” is a critically acclaimed campaign film that premiered on Channel 4 and exposed the inequalities that Disabled travelers face, triggering policy reform and establishing a Working Group to advise the UK Government.

Keely’s expertise has led her to participate as a disability subject matter expert in discussions with notable figures such as President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. She has frequented the White House to advocate for the safety and dignity of Disabled travelers, to eliminate subminimum wage for Disabled professionals, and to celebrate milestone events such as the anniversaries of the Americans with Disability Act (ADA).

Keely played a key role as a youth leader in the inaugural Mental Health Youth Action Forum, hosted by MTV Entertainment Group in collaboration with the Biden-Harris Administration and leading mental health nonprofits. Keely was invited to speak alongside Selena Gomez, First Lady Dr Jill Biden, Surgeon General Dr. Murthy and President Joe Biden. The forum took place at the White House, driving mental health awareness to action through storytelling and media. Prior to this, Keely teamed up with major Hollywood figures to urge movie studios to hire permanent disability and accessibility officers. Amy Poehler and Naomie Harris are among over 80 names who signed an open letter sent across Hollywood.

Keely has delivered speeches for many organizations, including the United Nations, LEGO Group, NBCUniversal, Microsoft, Amazon, and Apple to name a few. As a thought leader, her writing has appeared in prominent media outlets, including an op-ed in TIME Magazine on Section 14c of the Fair Labor Standards Act, Forbes and a Fast Company series on accessibility in the workforce.

Keely became a laureate of the Youth Activist Summit at the United Nations Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, on the eve of the International Day for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, 2022. This summit celebrates remarkable young people driving sustainability and human rights advancements.

In 2023, Keely became a Storyteller in Residence at the Clinton Global Initiative, and in 2024 Keely was named a Presidential Leadership Scholar, making her the youngest participant in the program’s 10-year history. The program is a partnership among the Presidential Centers of George W. Bush, William J. Clinton, George H.W. Bush, and Lyndon B. Johnson, designed for leaders committed to helping solve society’s greatest challenges. In 2024 Keely was named one of two Fellows for Gloria Steinem’s Inaugural Fellowship.

Keely has received numerous awards and honors, including The Diana Award, established in memory of Diana, Princess of Wales. It is renowned as the most prestigious accolade a young person can achieve for their humanitarian or social action endeavors. Other accolades include Forbes 30 Under 30, AdWeek Young Influential, Great British Entrepreneur of the Year, Lakers Women Of Entrepreneurship Award, and recognition as a ‘most powerful executive in the creator economy’ by Fast Company. Additionally, she has been acknowledged as a Linkedin Top Voice, One Young World Entrepreneur of the Year, Meaningful Business 100, Tory Burch Foundation Fellow, Aerie Changemaker, Rebel Girl Changemaker and was featured in their best-selling Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls series. In alliance with entities like the International Paralympic Committee and UN Human Rights, Keely is a founding member of #WeThe15, a Silver and Bronze Cannes Lions-winning campaign considered the most significant human rights movement in sports history.

Keely has had the privilege of serving on the Advisory Board for Lady Gaga’s Born This Way Foundation and currently holds positions on the Board of Directors for No Barriers USA, The Disability Community Resource Center, 2-Gether International, Generation Patient, and the Hollywood Radio Television Society Foundation. She also serves on the ReelAbilities Film Festival Advisory Board, the Diversity Working Group for the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and Ad Age.